S. Andrejkovičová

Sorption of heavy metal cations on rhyolitic and andesitic bentonites from Central Slovakia

Sorption of heavy metal cations on rhyolitic and andesitic bentonites from Central Slovakia The main purpose of this work was to determine adsorption characteristics of heavy metal cations on two Slovak bentonites. Adsorption of Pb2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ on Jelšový Potok (JP) and Lieskovec (L) bentonites was studied by the batch equilibration technique using solutions of different concentrations. Higher smectite content (81 mass %) and higher cation exchange capacity (CEC) (105 mmol M+/100 g) of JP bentonite cause higher adsorption of all heavy metals in comparison with L bentonite. JP adsorbed heavy metals in the order Pb2+ » Cd2+ > Zn2+ > Cu2+ while sorption on L was slightly different, Pb2+ » Cd2+ > Cu2+ ≥ Zn2+. The Freundlich model of adsorption is more appropriate for adsorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ while lower uptake of Cu2+ and Zn2+ is better described by the Langmuir model. Negative ΔG° values indicate that the adsorption process of all cations on both bentonites is feasible, spontaneous and exothermic. The decrease in the d001 spacings from 14.8-14.9 Å in natural dominantly Ca2+-saturated samples to 13.2-12.6 Å for both bentonites saturated with four heavy metal cations shows the effect of less hydrated exchangeable cations on interlayer spacing. Jelšový Potok bentonite of higher montmorillonite content and greater CEC is the more effective candidate for removal of Pb2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ from waste water than Lieskovec bentonite.

Fine sepiolite addition to air lime-metakaolin mortars

Abstract Lime-based mortars with admixtures of metakaolin (10,20 and 30 wt.%) and fine sepiolite (5 wt.%) were prepared with the aim of facilitating their use as repair mortars in lowhumidity conditions. The mechanical properties and the dynamic modulus of elasticity were studied after 28,90 and 180 days of curing. With an increasing amount of metakaolin in lime mortars, improved mechanical strength was observed mainly after 90 days. Addition of fine sepiolite, due to its adsorption properties for storing water for later supply to the mortar system and its microfibrous morphology,led to an improvement of compressive and flexural strength of blended air lime/air lime-metakaolin mortars, especially at later ages of curing. Incorporation of fine sepiolite into air lime-metakaolin mortars resulted in comprehensive densification of the core of the mortars. Air lime mortar containing 5 wt.% of fine sepiolite and 20 wt.% of metakaolin appears to be an optimal admixture.

Effective removal of anionic and cationic dyes by kaolinite and TiO2/kaolinite composites

Abstract The present study investigated the removal of methylene blue (MB) and orange II (OII) dyes from synthetic wastewater by means of adsorption and photocatalysis using natural kaolins. For MB adsorption, the raw kaolinite-rich samples showed the greatest adsorption capacity, with rapid uptake (90% after 20 min). The experimental results were fitted better using the Langmuir isotherm model parameters compared to the Freundlich model, suggesting that the adsorption corresponds to monolayer coverage of MB molecules over the kaolinite surface. For OII, neither the Langmuir nor the Freundlich model gave reliable results, because the adsorption of anionic dye molecules by the clayey particles is not favoured. Mixtures of kaolinite/Degussa TiO2 were also prepared, and their photocatalytic properties under UV-light exposure were investigated. Decolourization of MB solutions was observed, even in a mixture with low TiO2 content. This is related to the combined effect of adsorption and photocatalysis and, unlike the pure clay samples, the efficiency of such mixtures against OII was only slightly weaker (80-94%). For TiO2-impregnated clays, with the kaolinite layers separated by sol-gel TiO2 particles, the MB removal was slow and effective only after >24 h due to the complexity of the bonding of MB molecules. On the other hand, the removal performance against OII solutions was very efficient (nearly 100%) within only 2 h. This excellent performance was attributed to morphological changes in clay particles.